Blackmagic Forum

I'm using DaVinci Resolve and qnap NAS at work, is there any way me and my coworkers could access the media from the NAS remotely to collaborate on projects on DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Does anyone know what would be an option?

Thanks

The head of Resolve's development team has said that Resolve's collaboration features were designed to work with all machines in the same building physically connected to that network. It's not designed to work over the Internet with it's vagaries.

There is a section in the manual pg. 3309 that talks about modifying the configuration file so that the project server can communicate across different subnets.
This will work if a VPN infrastructure is set up that connects editors working from different places.
Currently I am trying to achieve that with VPN point to point routers, but haven't seen the light at end of the tunnel yet.
As far as sharing media files, that is not a function of the project server or resolve. You need to inquire from the qnap people how to share files over the internet. And there is the question of speed, currently the most you can hope to get over regular internet is 30-40MBps. Not bad, but not good enough for editing. The editors would have to download local copies of the media.

I hope they address this. Especially in this new WFH world.
Right now, it is just so slow that its unusable over a WAN.

There is a function in Media Management to copy any media in a network location to the local storage.

We used to use a NAS. It's do-able. Not the fastest, but it worked for 6K R3D with 10 gig network connections. You do need 10 gig. We only had two editors, and we usually weren't working with the same media at the same time. The metadata server's connection doesn't need to be that fast, just the ones between the edit stations and storage.

Jim Simon wrote:The head of Resolve's development team has said that Resolve's collaboration features were designed to work with all machines in the same building physically connected to that network. It's not designed to work over the Internet with it's vagaries.

He's not talking about connecting over the internet.

Jason Conrad wrote:He's not talking about connecting over the internet.

How else does he access the NAS "remotely"? As in, not in the same building or connected to the same network as the NAS?

Agreed. "Remotely" suggests outside the LAN. Off-premises. At home. VPN. Not in the facility. Elseware. Boon docks, middle of no-where, Remote location, somewhere other than the central server.

10gig sure. Works great, actually.

Adobe is leapfrogging BMD in this area. Avid's approach does work, though not ideal or for small groups/biz. BMD has to address remote (WAN) workflows.

adrinmachado wrote:I'm using DaVinci Resolve and qnap NAS at work, is there any way me and my coworkers could access the media from the NAS remotely to collaborate on projects on DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Does anyone know what would be an option?

Thanks

Dunno about Resolve project sharing across WAN (came to post a seperate question about collaboration) - I think the database nature of the project storage mean that latency read/writing might be an issue.

With PPro I’ve had a lot of success using SyncThing to synchronise media *and* productions (adobe collection of projects) across WAN. Caveat is that the .prlock files (which are small files Adobe write to prevent multiple users writing to the same project) can take a while to create on remote machine. Not an issue as editors mostly open media project as read only and have their own edit project.

So you could definitely sync the media that way - and export .drp files to move sequences maybe? Or get clever with database copying?

let's define "collaboration": are you talking about the [resolve collaboration] method or just have people working in the same database? (but perhaps on a different project?)

for remote, are you talking about phisically two locations separated but connected via VPN thru internet?

I saw two ways to do this:

1) two physical machines, with two identical drive structure that continuously sync, one database server near one of the machine (the color one in my case). the movie was split in 9 reels and while I was coloring reel 1, the editor can work on reel [2-9]. you cannot use [resolve collaboration], latency is too big like Jim mentioned.

2) two physical machines, IN THE SAME BUILDING, connected as normal, and the remote machine VPN the GUI wherever you are in the world. In my case we also used a system (clearview) to get a proper feed for coloring, the lag was minimal and i was able to have interactivity.

2b) you can have a two monitor system and use the [clear feed] to the second monitor and vpn that, in that way you can also get a full monitor preview of what ou're doing.

in this second way, the machines are physically there, secure and the material is in one place only nad you can use [resolve collaboration] because the machines are near in teh same network. extra bonus, the remote machine does not have to be a big deal, just a minumum machine that can sustain a good vpn connection.

both ways fails is the internet connection fail, but the second does not break the database....

adrinmachado wrote:I'm using DaVinci Resolve and qnap NAS at work, is there any way me and my coworkers could access the media from the NAS remotely to collaborate on projects on DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Does anyone know what would be an option?

Thanks

Try John's approach - it may work: Host Davinci Resolve Over the Internet - Davinci Resolve Project Server 16

Thom Guida wrote:

adrinmachado wrote:I'm using DaVinci Resolve and qnap NAS at work, is there any way me and my coworkers could access the media from the NAS remotely to collaborate on projects on DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Does anyone know what would be an option?

Thanks

Try John's approach - it may work: Host Davinci Resolve Over the Internet - Davinci Resolve Project Server 16

that is the basic option (1) I described, but it does not address latency: you really cannot use [resolve collaboration] and on the buddy side, every time you "save" you will have all the latency in your end.

as for database computer, IIRC we used a mini mac.

With my limited knowledge that was the best I could suggest. I apologize for not following the depth of the Questions and answers previously given.

waltervolpatto wrote:

Thom Guida wrote:

adrinmachado wrote:I'm using DaVinci Resolve and qnap NAS at work, is there any way me and my coworkers could access the media from the NAS remotely to collaborate on projects on DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Does anyone know what would be an option?

Thanks

Try John's approach - it may work: Host Davinci Resolve Over the Internet - Davinci Resolve Project Server 16

that is the basic option (1) I described, but it does not address latency: you really cannot use [resolve collaboration] and on the buddy side, every time you "save" you will have all the latency in your end.

as for database computer, IIRC we used a mini mac.

No need to apologise - that was a good addition to the discussion imo!

Yes, no need to apologize at all, actually a visual might show better the idea behind it.

I walk among Giants here. I am always polite, still call people Sir, Ma'am, Young "whatever" - etc.

LOL - but don't let the veneer fool you, I am better known as the "Bull in the China Shop."

On Topic

IIRC the only way you can get around latency would be dedicated lines, 56K, 128K to T.1 speeds, these were often the "go to's" on Wall Street especially if they were using "Hoot n Hollers" = Open phone lines with a speaker / "desk mic" for buying/selling/etc. Stocks, etc.

Of course you pay through the nose for these then and now. However, they are more affordable now than they were. I'm sure the "Big Production" house might use them. Now, our default solution, is the mindset of Internet, VPN, etc., sometimes older technology can provide a better solution.

If you think they could even be a remote possibility as a solution, call Carrier's like Windstream (research others, they are very competitive) and explain what you are trying to do, overcome latency/etc., and see if it is a possible affordable solution. I am definitely no expert, just some of the things I picked up 70-80's.